Apparatus and method for evaluating battery state of charge

Abstract

An apparatus for estimating a battery state of charge includes a computer that determines a lifespan of a battery by creating test conditions for the battery by reflecting predetermined driving information of a vehicle and then performing the test conditions; and a tester that performs charging according to predetermined charging conditions and discharging according to predetermined discharging conditions on the battery in accordance with the test conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for estimating a battery state of charge, the apparatus comprising:
 a computer that determines a lifespan of a battery by creating test conditions to simulate a use amount of the battery in engine-on/off states according to an increase in a battery use amount for the battery by reflecting predetermined driving information of a vehicle and then performing the test conditions; and 
 a tester that performs charging according to predetermined charging conditions and discharging according to predetermined discharging conditions on the battery in accordance with the test conditions to estimate aging of the battery within a preset short time by accelerating durability test of the battery, 
 wherein the simulation of the use amount of the battery in engine-on state is simulation of an energy use amount when power generation control or actual estimation data of an Idle Start and Go (ISG) system are used, the simulation of an energy use amount in an engine-off state is simulation of an energy use amount when a camera is used, the discharging is performed until the use energy amount becomes half after the engine of the vehicle is stopped, and then the charging is performed and the use energy amount of the battery and end voltage characteristic are reflected. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test conditions include a main micro-cycle that performs discharging and recharging after discharging for a predetermined first time. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the main micro-cycle performs discharging for a predetermined second time for discharging acceleration, performs charging until the battery is charged with a predetermined charging amount, repeats a sub-micro-cycle that sequentially performs discharging and charging with a predetermined specific number of repetitions, performs discharging for a predetermined third time, and then has a rest period for a predetermined fourth time. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the sub-micro-cycle performs discharging for a predetermined fifth time and then performs charging for a predetermined sixth time. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the sub-micro-cycle is repeated for a predetermined seventh time when an energy use amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value, and
 wherein the main micro-cycle is performed when the energy use amount is the same as or larger than the reference value. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the energy use amount is any one of a State Of Charge (SOC), a State Of Health (SOH), a Depth Of Discharging (DOD), a State Of Function (SOF), and a charging voltage. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an amount of discharging is determined through discharging coulomb counting, and an amount of charging is determined through charging coulomb counting and reflects vehicle characteristics. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test conditions progress after an engine of the vehicle is turned off. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is positioned in a chamber having a predetermined temperature for a predetermined eighth time, and the battery is a fully charged fresh battery that has not been used for any test before. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the driving information includes driving mode information of the vehicle, electrical load information, Idle Stop and Go (ISG) entrance information, and ISG removal information. 
     
     
       11. A method of estimating a battery state of charge, the method comprising:
 determining, by a computer, a lifespan of a battery by creating test conditions to simulate a use amount of the battery in engine-on/off states according to an increase in a battery use amount for the battery by reflecting predetermined driving information of a vehicle and then performing the test conditions; 
 performing, by a tester, charging according to predetermined charging conditions and discharging according to predetermined discharging conditions on the battery in accordance with the test conditions to estimate aging of the battery within a preset short time by accelerating durability test of the battery; and 
 determining, by the computer, a lifespan of the battery in accordance with results of the charging and discharging, wherein the simulation of the use amount of the battery in engine-on state is simulation of an energy use amount when power generation control or actual estimation data of an Idle Start and Go (ISG) system are used, the simulation of an energy use amount in an engine-off state is simulation of an energy use amount when a camera is used, the discharging is performed until the use energy amount becomes half after the engine of the vehicle is stopped, and then the charging is performed and the use energy amount of the battery and end voltage characteristic are reflected. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the test conditions include a main micro-cycle that performs discharging and recharging after discharging for a predetermined first time. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the main micro-cycle performs discharging for a predetermined second time for discharging acceleration, performs charging until the battery is charged with a predetermined charging amount, repeats a sub-micro-cycle that sequentially performs discharging and charging with a predetermined specific number of repetitions, performs discharging for a predetermined third time, and then has a rest period for a predetermined fourth time. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sub-micro-cycle performs discharging for a predetermined fifth time and then performs charging for a predetermined sixth time. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sub-micro-cycle is repeated for a predetermined seventh time when an energy use amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value, and
 wherein the main micro-cycle is performed when the energy use amount is the same as or larger than the reference value. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein an amount of discharging is determined through discharging coulomb counting, an amount of charging is determined through charging coulomb counting and reflects vehicle characteristics. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the test conditions progress after an engine of the vehicle is turned off. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the energy use amount is any one of a State Of Charge (SOC), a State Of Health (SOH), a Depth Of Discharging (DOD), a State Of Function (SOF), and a charging voltage. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the battery is positioned in a chamber having a predetermined temperature for a predetermined eighth time, and the battery is a fully charged fresh battery that has not been used for any test before.